The city of Belleville is taking a close look at a resolution circulating around the province, calling for changes in regulations related to packaging of single-use wipes.
This week, city council took a look at a resolution by the city of Kitchener asking the federal government for changes in the packaging that would remove the word “flushable.”
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the mayor of Hamilton Fred Eisenberger says single-use wipes are not safe to flush as they are buoyant; are not biodegradable; and are unable to break down into small pieces quickly.
The mayor’s letter says single-use wipes accumulate in the sewer system and eventually clog the sanitary sewer system costing municipalities hundreds of millions of dollars in additional repairs each year to municipal sewer systems across the country.
The letter makes the point there is a lack of public awareness of the impact caused by non-flushable wipes being flushed down toilets and consumer education and outreach could play a large part in reducing the impact.
Hamilton then decided to lobby the federal government to remove the word flushable from the related consumer packaging.
Belleville Councillor Chris Malette called the wipes “disgusting” and said “they don’t belong in our toilets.”
Council asked for a staff report on the issue.
